Which breed bites most?
Should We Do Anything About Pit Bulls?
By Jill Kuraitis, 6-15-07
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From Boise’s CBS affiliate, KBCI Channel 2, we have another report of a pit bull attack - this time, the dog’s own family.
And again, we have neighbors who know the dog saying “it was only a matter of time.”
What wasn’t reported on the local news to much extent is the fact that the boy in the family was apparently teasing and otherwise provoking the dog. Update: The dog has been euthanized at the Idaho Humane Society.
We are a dog family. You could say we’re bananas about them. We feel compelled to have two at all times, and we’d have more if we didn’t slap ourselves upside the head periodically. Yes, I’ve met nice pit bulls. VERY nice ones; big sloppy sweethearts, in fact. I’ve also met big goofy sweet Rottweilers and Dobermans.
But I admit I am afraid of pit bulls, Rottweilers and Dobermans, even though my experience with them has been positive. They just LOOK so darned mean.
Then again, I’m not fond of yappy little protective dogs, either. They look as though they could turn into the Wicked Witch’s Flying Monkeys any minute.
“Anything with teeth will bite,” said Dee Fugit, public relations and education director at the Idaho Humane Society. “But we don’t see the media here when a Dalmation has bitten off someone’s nose, or a Dachshund has badly wounded an ankle.”
The question of whether or not pit bulls bite more people than any other breed is a touchy one. There are scads of pro-pit bull organizations and websites which quote a variety of numbers, none of which put pit bulls at the top of the list, of course.
However, the Idaho Humane Society’s Executive Director, Jeff Rosenthal, DVM, does – sort of. The breed “loosely defined as pit bulls” are implicated in 18% of total bite cases in Ada County. That means some of those dogs are mixes of some sort. And what some people think are pit bulls – officially, American Staffordshire Terriers – are other breeds which can resemble them.
But Labrador Retrievers are next on the list, at 12%. The herding dogs group – Border Collies, Heelers, Australian Shepherds and other herders – make up 20% of the total.
Those statistics surprise me, especially the Labradors. It appears I ought to be almost as wary of them as of pit bulls, and that never occurred to me.
As a person who holds animals in high regard – just this morning I scooped up a wounded robin from ParkCenter boulevard and took him home until he recovered from his daze, then let him go – I could not say “just get rid of all pit bulls” unless there was good evidence.
There isn’t.
Are we going to put down all the herders, too? And then come the Labradors – can you imagine the hue and cry if such a thing were proposed?
The arguments about irresponsible dog owners can be found everywhere – trying Googling the phrase – and I am more than convinced of the problem. It amazes me when a person’s dog has bitten – badly – more than once, and they continue to insist “he’s just not like that.” Since I have had the appalling experience of having to euthanized a beloved dog because he went for my throat, unprovoked – turned out he was sick – I know the heartbreak, yet it was an easy decision. The safety of my family and others was first, period. So I don’t get it when people won’t euthanize an incorrigible dog.
Nor do I understand people whose dogs won’t come when they’re called, walk at heel on a leash, and sit-stay on command. Those seem as basic as teaching your kids not to run into traffic.
But I do understand why the emotional response of the public to pit bull attacks has come to define the breed. The combination of excessive media coverage, irresponsible pit bull owners, and Animal Planet programs which highlight fighting pit bull rings getting busted have all contributed.
I could be wrong.
Now, let’s all go to the kitchen, get a dog cookie, and work on that “sit” thing.
Here’s a darling pit bull mix puppy who is available at the Idaho Humane Society right now - he’s Login #702630
Pit bull Terrier/Dalmatian mix - male - 4 months old. Here we have one smart pup! He already knows basic commands such as sit, stay, down - and he even shakes hands. WOW! On top of all that, he is super cute! He loves to fetch and does have a puppy energy level, but such potential don’t let him down if you stay on the obedience and training. He has no restrictions but, as with any dog, he should be supervised around children.
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Comments
What if Labs constitute 25% of dog citizens, yet only carry 12% of the bite load. Likable slackers.
The herders are a bit neurotic, and on a mission. I'm sure those humans were messing with their efficiency.
Might want to check this then:
http://www.understand-a-bull.com/BSL/OtherBreedBites/AllDogsBite.htm
Our ACO recieves more bite cases by collie and lab mixes than by any "pit bull" or Rottweiler type dogs.
The problem is where bad owners reinforce the breeding, and you've got a killing machine on four legs.
One of the men in the picnic group called the dog to come back... the dog ignored him. He ran towards us saying, "Don't worry, he's a nice dog."
Yeah, right.
Maybe he is... but it's amazing how often, following a vicious pit pull attack, the responsible party says, "I don't understand it... he's a nice dog."
(By the way, these people were totally ignoring Boise's, and the park's, leash law. So my opinion of them was quite low to begin with. The dog should be on a leash, even if he's a nice dog. And I told 'em so.)
A couple of additional comments:
- It's nice that the illiterate can also comment on this topic.
- GO RAIDERS!!
(-;
I've handled and trained dogs for many years now and the only ones I fully trust are those that understand their place in the pack. Without that, any dog will have episodes of violence that surprises the owners.
As well, someone made the population point above and it was right on. Labradors make up an overwhelming majority of dogs in the United States, black labs being far on top over any other breed. Until the numbers are normalized, they mean very little.
However, we had such a good experience with our first pit bull (we've had him since he was 5 weeks old) that we decided to help out a rescue and help our 1st dog (pack mentality, dogs prefer other dogs' company, etc.) by adopting the second one. We've had her for just about 6 months now and the same dog that would not come to my husband at the shelter (she's afraid of men) continues to gain self confidence and a sense of stability in our home that has undoubtedly changed her behavior for the better. She still has her issues, but we're aware of them and we don't put her in dangerous situations. Like all other dogs, they are animals; they can be trained, and yes--they will always have animal instincts, but that's why it's up to humans to control and protect them.
There are plenty of pit bull owners who aren't criminals, gang members, or whatever other tired stereotype you can think of. My husband and I both have college degrees and we are proud to be ambassadors for the breed, to show people that nice pits do exist.
1. Pit Bulls
2. Rottweilers
3. German Shepherds
4. Huskies
5. Alaskan Malamutes
6. Doberman Pinschers
7. Chow Chows
8. Great Danes
9. St. Bernards
10. Akitas
Although often cited, the CDC report cautioned that the accuracy of the data "requires complete ascertainment of deaths and an accurate determination of the breed involved, and the denominator requires reliable breed-specific population data (i.e., number of deaths involving a given breed divided by number of dogs of that breed). Lump twenty breeds of dog together and you will certainly have what looks like a breed problem as relates to dog bites and dog-bite-related fatalities!
The issue is clouded by up to at least half a dozen different breeds being classified as "pit bulls" and comparing these figures to individual breeds, making statistical comparisons irrelevant. Breed identifications were also obtained from media reports, a highly biased and dubious source on which to base policy decisions. For all the reasons mentioned above CDC no longer quote breed identifications in dog-bite data, and justly so. Dog weight would be a more accurate factor.
The statistical high rate of fatality due to alleged “pit bull-type dogs” is rife with inaccuracy simply because bullies are the most newsworthy breeds, as the CDC readily admits:
“..to the extent that attacks by 1 breed are more newsworthy than those by other breeds, our methods may have resulted in differential ascertainment of fatalities by breed.” (JAVMA, Vol 217, No. 6, September 15, 2000, p. 838).
“…it is imperative to keep in mind that even if breed-specific bite rates could be accurately calculated, they do not factor in owner-related issues. For example, less responsible owners or owners who want to foster aggression in their dogs may be drawn differentially to certain breeds” (JAVMA, Vol 217, No. 6, September 15, 2000, p. 839).
As far as the numbers of "pit bulls" compared to the number of them that attack a person, you have to take into account that a lot of the so-called "pit bull" attacks are of a mix breed dog that someone claims is a "pit bull" based on it's appearance or "oh, it attacked a person so it must be a pit bull".
If you contact the AKC, UKC, and ADBA, you will find that there are a lot more of the "pit bull" breeds (American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, and Staffordshire Bull Terrier) being registered than any other. The American Pit Bull Terrier is also the #1 dog being shown in the USA right now.
The American Temperment Test Society, http://www.atts.org/ ,
Shows (as of today) that American Pit Bull Terriers are at an 84.1% pass rate (with 542 being tested). They show Golden Retrievers with an 83.8% pass rate (with 687 being tested).
Golden Retrievers are the number two breed being registered.
Did you know that Helen Keller had 3 different "pit bulls"? That the first dog to receive a military commedation was a "pit bull"? The first dog to recive a commendation from the Red Cross was a "pit bull"? The first dog to travel across america on a motorcycle was a "pit bull"? And the list goes on...
http://www.StopOklahomaBSL.com
http://www.MyDogVotes.com
http://www.DogPolitics.com
Also, the temperment testing means nothing. It is not a random sample of dogs. All it tells us is the pass rate by breed, all dogs that have been trained and whose owner paid for the test to be taken, and no comparisons can be made to other breeds.
The temperament testing does mean something because the dogs that scored WORSE than the pit bulls were also selected, trained dogs. So what's their excuse?
Just to play devil's advocate: if the temperament testing "means nothing" then by that logic media reports on pit bull attacks mean even less. There are 20+ breeds that are commonly incorrectly identified as pit bulls. Until there is a foolproof way to classify these dogs, they will be lumped together under "what appears to be a pit bull." Again, the CDC readily admits: “..to the extent that attacks by 1 breed are more newsworthy than those by other breeds, our methods may have resulted in differential ascertainment of fatalities by breed.”
One flaw in the statistics comes from the difficulty on the part of the average person (and even the experts) to identify a breed of dog accurately, especially under extreme stress such as occurs during an attack (JAVMA, Vol 217, No. 6, September 15, 2000, p. 838).
If you want to see what pit bulls are really like, visit a pit bull rescue organization. You'll see dogs that have endured the worst situations imaginable, yet they are still loving, loyal dogs who just want to please humans.
These are not humans. Some of these dogs have been bred for many years for agressive purposes. Hence, they have developed tendencies for this. Can that really be objectively denied? Are we really saying that dogs are born as a blank sheet and the owner can write whatever he wants on that sheet? I think that's crazy.
Dogs are not human, they don't have human tendencies; we need to understand what dogs are before we have a chance at controlling the number of dog bites out there. I don't see how any person can justify having a dog like that in the presence of his family.
When a cat bites you, chances are the injury is going to be minor unless it attacks your throat or something; when a pit bull bites you, the potential for injury, serious injury, is greatly increased; this is basic logic. The more powerful the dog, the more serious injury can be when attacks happen. Then add on the apparently aggressive nature of some of these breeds. It's crazy to have one, especially when you have kids.
Responsible pit bull owners who give their dogs loving homes do realize the potential of their animals. We also realize that these dogs have an extremely bad reputation that is not their fault. Dogs do not bite humans if they have been raised well, socialized, and trained...no matter what breed. Dogs that bite humans have usually been abused, mistreated, or trained to be mean. Yes, pit bulls were trained to fight other dogs. But biting a human was considered grounds for death.
Please take the time to do research on the myths about pit bulls. Here is a website with some information for you.
http://www.realpitbull.com/myths.html
You will find out that it is impossible to accurately gague the force of a dog bite so your theory that a pit bull's bite pressure is more than other dogs is unfounded. What is likely the case is that pit bulls are by nature very persistent and tenacious. When those qualities are focused in a negative way, bad things can happen. This is what you see reported in the news, sensationalized in case you haven't noticed. Unfortunately what we don't hear about in the news is when the breed's determination is focused in positive ways: as service dogs, rescue dogs, etc. That doesn't make exciting news, of course, so it's often ignored.
As for your comment about having a pit bull with children. I do not personally have any children, but like with any other dog they should never be left unsupervised with children. If you read carefully the news reports about attacks involving children you will often find negligence on the part of the owner(s), the parent(s) or both. A lot of people have both pit bulls and families. The key is being informed and responsible about your dog.
You shouldn't blame human stupidity and cruelty on the dogs.
http://www.nwcn.com/topstories/stories/NW_08210WAB_dog_mauling_SW.583497bb.html
One more in a litany of pitbull attacks but this home invasion and attack. This is a dangerous breed and a real problem.
Also, please take into account that the breed is often a subjective call. Any dog that appears to be a pit bull will be labeled as such. I challenge everyone to take the Find A Pit Bull test (http://www.pitbullsontheweb.com/petbull/findpit.html) to see just how accurate you are at judging the breed of a dog. Now imagine a dog just attacked you---do you think you could make a clear headed call on the breed? I'm not saying all reports are cases of mistaken identity, but there are so many dogs that look similar that it's nearly impossible for the reports to be 100% accurate. In addition, there are many breeds that fall into the pit bull category, so it's no wonder it's a larger percentage of attacks reported...you're seeing a combination of breeds as opposed to labs or beagles which are distinct breeds.
It's irresponsible to blame the dogs when they are a product of human conditioning and training. ANY dog that attacks a human (not counting police dogs at work, etc.) is defective, which probably means it was abused or neglected or it was put into circumstances to provoke behavior that is against its nature.
Also, when pit bulls were used for fighting in the past they were killed if they ever attacked a human in the ring. So attacking humans is not an inbred characteristic and human-aggression and animal-aggression are starkly different.
I don't necessarily think I can change anyone's mind on such an emotional topic, but please do some research and realize that media reports are not always accurate. Go to a shelter and see some actual pit bulls and you'll see dogs that love humans.
I don't think that is a complete answer.
"please do some research and realize that media reports are not always accurate. "
I have and I do.
"Go to a shelter and see some actual pit bulls and you'll see dogs that love humans."
I lived next to a pitbull several years ago hat barked vicously at me 99% of the time he saw me.
Well, then, it sounds like the dog was just being a normal dog. A lot of pit bull owners will tell you that these dogs will bark their heads off at someone on the other side of the door, but as soon as you open the door the dog goes into lick mode and attacks the visitor with its tongue. This applies to socialized, well-cared for dogs you understand. Most dogs will defend their territory against outsiders. I don't see how that's particularly threatening.
Also, just wondering, did he announce his intentions to you or actually try to bite you or....how did you know he came up to you with the "express purpose of biting" you?
Because I was 200 feet from his house doing nothing unusual and he silently walked up to me (no barking ) and bit and got pants leg. There is a hole in my pants leg.
There was no barking, defending his turf. This was walking across the street to my house and silently biting at me and missing flesh by 1-2 inches. And repeatedly trying to do it again.
I am a former longtime dog owner and have only drifted toward more concern and frustration with poor dog owner and aggressive dogs over time from reading the steady flow of violent attacks and having some more minor experiences myself. About a month a german dog charged across a field at a park and barked and bared teeth at me aggressively. Again the owner made no attempt at apology.
Next dog that charges or attempts to bite me I will be calling the police.
And I am done discussing it with denialist dog owners. You and your dogs may be fine but that doesnt remove the problem and I know my experience and my views. And I know what aggressive dogs are doing to people far worse than my experience. This is an out of control problem, soft peddled for too long.
However, I am a RESPONSIBLE dog owner. I believe in using the laws that are already on the books and prosecuting the irresponsible owners. It doesn't matter what breed it is, if the owner is irresposible there is going to be a problem.
There is now becoming a trend across the nation to ban chaining of dogs. This is crazy! For a dog that is a "Houdini", chaining is the only way to keep the dog contained. Chaining doesn't mean the dog doesn't get proper attention or play time with it's people. And with most chain set-ups the dog actually has more space than it would have in a kennel. BTW the places that are banning chaining dogs, it is still legal to chain other animals!
http://www.StopOklahomaBSL.com
http://www.MyDogVotes.com
http://www.DogPolitics.com
Breed Discrimination is Racism! - Ban the Deed, Not the Breed!
The circumstance that caused me not to report the case immediately was that the owner was out talking to a neighbor who had a tree fall on his car. By comparison this wasnt a huge deal.
But I did talk to animal control just now to find out how they handle "menancing" behavior where no injury occurs and in a future case I will report menancing behavior, which is not acceptable even if some owners think it is normal.
Ban restrictions are a separate issue from the main issue of overall proper animal control and I will look at it further at a later time when I can review the data and arguments more carefully.
"Breed" restrictions are a separate issue....
Thanks for the clarification about the bulldog coming after you. I was being a little sarcastic b/c you didn't fully explain if he'd actually bitten you or whatever... But I wasn't challenging your position on what happened. You were there, I wasn't.
My point is: this is a problem with the owner(s). If the owner is not responsive then animal control or the police should be called. I hope you do that in the future, as you indicated. There may be other people in the area that have had the same problem but haven't reported it, so you might be doing everyone a favor.
And, for the record, I don't deny that there are bad dogs out there (some from all the breeds), but they are that way usually b/c their humans passively allow it or actively encourage it. Dogs that show aggression toward humans are dangerous and should be carefully, carefully controlled whenever they are in a situation that could end in someone getting hurt.
We found out the hard way that our smaller dog, Mia, is a back biter like Kathy described--bites your pant leg when you walk away and then runs away. So we don't let her off leash around other people unless we are carefully supervising (i.e. in our home). She's a rescue and grew up on the streets of New Orleans post-Katrina, so we didn't know that she would act this way when we first took her to a dog park. But when we found out this was a problem for her we found another way for our dogs to get exercise--other than the dog park. She's a perfectly happy but emotionally damaged dog (she's getting better) and I don't want to see her confiscated and destroyed.
But not the total problem- not all dog attacks can be explained as coming totally from bad owners or lack of training.
Owners are the point of control. I didnt feel right being a total hardass this time under the circumstances- said some things, didnt get a great response but it could have been worse. In general reporting is the way to go. But I have experienced retribution for filing other kinds of complaints so sometimes it is a lose - lose situation that doesnt pay to report.
Backbiting is more a nuisance If that is all we faced I probably wouldnt make a fuss. But it reminded me about the major attacks.
I understand the perspective of responsible dog owners be it pit bulls or whatever breed. The main beef are with irresponsible owners and known dangerous dogs. But dogs general instincts and behavior are still subject to review. They have adapted some to us and we to them but their nature can sometimes be a problem in our environment.
I'll wrap up by saying I will be looking for ways to improve pet control and enforcement and I appreciate any steps that responsible pet owners will taken in the same direction.